Australia’s premier business forum, The Australian Financial Review Business Summit, presented by BHP, returns on March 5-6 at the Hilton Sydney with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to open the two-day event focused on the themes of trust, purpose and prosperity.

Mr Morrison’s appearance at the Financial Review’s fourth annual Business Summit follows appearances by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2017 and 2018. More than 700 people attended the Summit last year.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is another headline speaker for the Business Summit.

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe and acclaimed economic historian Niall Ferguson are also among the headline speakers.

As in previous years, the 2019 Summit will focus on promoting business-led economic growth and prosperity for Australia.

Financial Review editor-in-chief, Michael Stutchbury, said the 2019 Business Summit comes at a critical moment for Australia, weeks after the searing final report of the banking royal commission, and in the lead-up to the Coalition’s budget and a likely May election.

“And it faces domestic risks, such as the decline in trust in institutions, an antagonistic political environment and a downgrade of the economic growth outlook, weighed down by weak wages growth and falling house prices.

“The key question for the Summit is how can business rebuild trust in its basic purpose in order to build on the prosperity that Australians now take for granted.”
Other speakers include:
- Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO
- Anthony Eisen, Executive Chair and Co-founder of Afterpay
- Geraldine Buckingham, Chair and Head of Asia Pacific BlackRock
- Peter Costello, Chairman of the Future Fund and Nine
- Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO and Managing Director of The a2 Milk Company
- Tobi Pearce, Sweat CEO
- Jennifer Westacott, CEO of the Business Council of Australia

Together with the Financial Review’s top columnists and editors, they will map out the fundamental challenges and opportunities confronting Australian business now and over the next 12 months.

Visit www.afrsummit.com for further information on speakers, the agenda and ticket details.